The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-03-17
WINpHAM COUNTY CouRT.'
Special correspondence of the SITTER,

NEwFANE, W., MAR, IL, 1887.
Euqene c, johnson rs 1loago h, Do
lHtle.-Verdict for defendant, This case
was reported last week
| I'm, johnson rS Ardd HuHt-m this
case it appears that in the summer of 's5,
the plaintiff VIM, Johnson, of Bondyille,
was at work for Harris & Buttertlcld in
Brattlcboro, and ON the early evening of
Aug. II, was crossing the street in d.
agonal direction from the Reformer office
toward Smith 4 Hunts furniture store,
when he was run into by Arad Hunt, of
Brattleboro, who came down Canal st,
and passed up Main st, The plaintiff
was knocked down and received n severe
blow near the right eye, presumably from
the thill which disqualified him for labor
and rendered medical treatment necessary.
A few days later typhoid fever set in
from which he did not recover sufficiently
to 30 to work until the Goth of October.
Johnson claimed Hunt was responsible
for the injury since he, johnson, had got
two-thirds across the street when Hunt
struck him, and the latter therefore had
plenty of room to pass him to the right,
and was grossly negligent in running over
him.
Hunt claimed he was on the left side of
the street when he passed down Canal St,
| and didn't tbn rlUht whom he
came to Main st. because it was full of
teams at the time. He saw Johnson some
five rods ahead of him and slackened his
speed, expecting him to stop and let him
pass, but instead, johnson passed directly
towards his team and was struck, he,
Hunt, not being able to stop his horse
when he discovered johnson was not 60
ing to get out of the way. As Johnsons
negligence contributed to the accident, he
claimed he was not responsible.
The testimony went to show that the
defendant was driving at very rapid
gait over thoroughfare much frequented
by teams and foot travellers and that he
did not use every precaution in his power
to avert the collision which resulted in
Johnson's injuries. But the testimony of
Drs. Bruce, Holton and Draper went to
show that the typhoid fever that followed
was not the result of Johnson's injuries,
since it is specific disease, brought about
by the Judgement of typhoid fever germs
in the system, which in this case, must
have existed prior to the collision. The
cross examination of DR.. Bruce by lawyer
Waterman in regard to doctors theories,
and especially when the DR.. told him, in
reply to a question about the theory of
typhoid fever, that it would take him long
er to tell what he didn't know about it
than what he did, was very amusing.
The case went to the jury Friday after
noon. They brought in verdict for the
plaintiff and gave him damages to the
amount of S14l.50 Waterman d Martin
for PLAINTIFF Haskins q Stoddard and
7Wer for defendant.
Henry ". Simonds as BraHleboro Gas
Liqht C".--In this case an action was
brought by the plaintiff to recover for
damages which were received because of
Il leakage in the gas pipe of the defendants,
on Spruce ST. in Brattleboro.
The plaintiffs testimony went to show
that in the winters of 1854, lSS4-5 and
1856, gas escaped from a leak in the de-
PENDANTS pipe near the residence of the
plaintiff on Spruce st. and that the plain
tiff suffered to the amount of several hun.
bred dollars from the escape gas which
came into his cellar, destroying house
plants, vegetables, meat and butter, max
ing his house untenable, and bringing on q
sickness to him which lasted for several
months, during the winter of 1856. The
testimony tended further to show that the
defendant company had been frequently
notified of the leakage in the pipe, and
also that the work of laying the pipes or
Spruce st. in 1881, was done by unskilled
workmen and that the pipes had not beer
properly tested.
Defendants testimony went to show
that from the spring of 1882, when com
plant was made about gas on Spruce St
and when it was found that the gas came
from the pipes of the Estyville Gas Co.
to the spring Of 1886 no complaint was
made to their company from any one OF
Spruce st. about escaped gas, and that as
soon as possible subsequent to the notice
then given the gas was shut off from thai
street so that no further injury could arise
from it. Their testimony went further tC
show that the pipes were properly laid by
skilled workmen and had been frequently
tested The testimony of Drs. Gale ant
Holton tended to show that the plaintiff
was suffering from asthma in 1886, anC
that coal gas would not aggravate the dis
ease.
The case went to the jury late yesterda,
afternoon and the verdict had not beel
rendered at the writing of this
This case has been the longest and mos
closely contested of any so far, it doubt
less being test case. Haskias d .Hod
dard and Tyler for plaintG, Waterman d
Martin and c. b. Eddy for defendant,
THE WOMAN'S COLUMN.